Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944) was a Russian painter, art theorist, and one of the pioneers of abstract art. Born in Moscow, he initially studied law and economics before turning fully to painting in his thirties, later settling in Germany where he became a central figure in the avant-garde. Kandinsky co-founded the influential group Der Blaue Reiter, advocating for art that expressed inner emotion and spirituality rather than external reality. His work evolved from figurative landscapes toward bold, non-representational compositions defined by color, form, and rhythm, which he believed could evoke profound psychological and spiritual responses. As a teacher at the Bauhaus and author of key theoretical texts such as Concerning the Spiritual in Art, Kandinsky left a lasting impact on modern art and the development of abstraction.